Poltava – Lyrics

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Time has worn the soldiers downMarched for many milesIn the eastern lands so cursedTime to make a stand

Tsar has scorched his nation’s landNothing to be foundHunger grasp the soliders heart20 000 men strong

Listen, excuse for a kingTrust me, this fight you can’t win

PoltavaRode to certain death and painPoltavaSwedish soldiers met their banePoltavaSacrificed their lives in vainPoltava

In the shade of morning mistAdvancing on their foeBullets break the silent airWasted battleplan

Swedish forces stand aloneKing has left commandRule is left to lesser menWaiting for their chance

Listen, obey my commandHear me, or die by my hand

Russian armies blocked their way20 000 lost that dayThey bled the groundPeace they foundThere’s no sign of victoryKing Carolus had to fleeAnd leave the landLeave command

Madness, curse your feeble hordeFear me, you’ll die by my sword

Historic fact:

The Battle of Poltava on the 28th of June 1709 (Swedish calendar) was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia. It was the beginning of Sweden’s decline as a great power, as the Tsardom of Russia took its place as the leading nation of north-eastern Europe.

Because of the harsh winter of 1708/1709 and a series of military defeats, the Swedish army’s situation had become precarious. Charles XII decided to lay siege to the fortress of Poltava. The Russian had a substantial numerical advantage on the Swedes, about 42’000 for Russia against 16’500 for Sweden.

The Swedish assault on the Russian line was quickly disintegrated, with some men throwing their weapons on the ground and fleeing and their cavalry surrounded. The Swedes no longer had any organized bodies of troops to oppose the Russian infantry and cavalry. Some soldiers managed to escape through the woods while the rest were either ridden down or captured. Charles XII ordered a retreat to the woods with all the remaining forces he could gather. The Russians halted at the edge of the woods and stopped their artillery fire. (Text credits: Gregory Sandoz)